Chapter 82: An Even More Terrifying Genius
"You Qin Family cannot take on this matter yourselves?"Zhang Yuchun asked in confusion.
After hearing the news Qin Jue brought, he felt tempted.
Because Senior Brother had mentioned many times that the Clear Sky Sect needed disciples with talent in alchemy, and for this reason even asked him to pay more attention to any alchemists.
But in truth, not many were truly capable of alchemy.
Most were charlatans.
Gradually, Zhang Yuchun had set the matter aside.
Now things were convenient—the opportunity had come knocking?
Qin Jue gave a bitter smile and said: "Do you think forces that set their eyes on an alchemy family are something our Qin Family can contend with? After thinking it through, we felt only the Clear Sky Sect has the ability to take on this matter. And the Clear Sky Sect is a Dao Sect, so you should be interested in alchemy-related matters."
Zhang Yuchun did not immediately agree, nor did he say that Li Qingqiu needed this.
He pondered and said: "Do you know who abducted his daughter?"
"The Cui Family of Linchuan."
When he spoke these four words, Qin Jue’s face turned grave.
Linchuan lay in Zhongtian Province.
Although not within the True Sun Imperial City, it possessed deep historical heritage.
Across the past four dynasties, they had produced prime ministers and grand commandants.
It was a great aristocratic clan ranked among the foremost under heaven, with connections reaching the heavens.
At present, Linchuan had four great families: Li, Tang, Cui, and Cai.
These four clans had all rendered merit in the founding of the dynasty; their influence even surpassed that of imperial relatives.
After hearing the name of the Cui Family, Zhang Yuchun could not help but narrow his eyes.
The Cui Family’s influence was far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
In every province and region across the land, they had branch lineages.
To provoke them indeed required caution.
"For this matter, I must consult our Sect Master."Zhang Yuchun said earnestly.
Naturally, Qin Jue had no objections.
After the two exchanged a few more words, they left the Free Spirit Hall together.
Zhang Yuchun went to the Lingxiao Courtyard to wait for Li Qingqiu.
He waited until dusk.
After Li Qingqiu entered the courtyard, he did not rush to speak about the matter.
Only after dinner did the two enter the room to talk.
After they sat down, Zhang Yuchun recounted what Qin Jue had said.
Li Qingqiu was not surprised.
He looked at Zhang Yuchun and asked: "Do you think we should take it?"
An alchemy family might not necessarily produce an alchemy genius suited for immortal cultivation; it simply had a higher probability.
Zhang Yuchun opened his mouth: "We should accept it. Although the Cui Family is powerful, in this world, any matter involving benefit must be fought over. And currently there is only this one surviving branch of an alchemy family. If we miss it, who knows how many years we will have to wait—perhaps we may never encounter another.
"The only thing to consider is whether the Cui Family is doing this for their own gain or for the Emperor. After the Demonic Cult retreated from Guzhou, this matter regarding the alchemy family being hunted appeared. I do not think this is a coincidence. Even if we take this matter, we cannot expose our identities."
Li Qingqiu also felt the timing of this matter was likely related to the Emperor.
"Then you handle the arrangements. If this truly is the Emperor’s doing and we intervene, we might be able to save many innocent people. We cannot dispatch too many disciples. Let Third Junior Brother lead the team, but he cannot take his Thirteen Sword Fiends—far too conspicuous."Li Qingqiu said after pondering.
Zhang Yuchun nodded and smiled: "I plan to have Sixth Junior Brother go along. It is time to let him shoulder important responsibilities. He is about to turn eighteen, and his cultivation has already reached the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, Third Layer, not far from the Fourth Layer."
Li Qingqiu had no objection.
Li Sifeng indeed already had the strength to protect himself, not to mention Jiang Zhaoxia accompanying him.
Letting the boy go out to gain experience was good—better than idling about the Training Hall all day.
After the matter was decided, Zhang Yuchun rose and left, preparing to inform Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng one by one.
Early the next morning, Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng disguised themselves and followed Qin Jue down the mountain, without disturbing others.
Regarding Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng, Li Qingqiu felt very reassured.
The only risk in this matter was exposing their identities.
If it truly was exposed, then they could only meet soldiers with generals and floods with earthworks.
The Clear Sky Sect had crushed the Demonic Cult, and he had even killed the Demon Emperor.
These deeds had already placed the Clear Sky Sect on the Emperor’s opposing side.
It was only because the Clear Sky Sect’s reputation was too great, carrying the banner of righteousness, that the Emperor did not dare openly target them.
Instead, he had to publicly commend the Clear Sky Sect to display his own sagely virtue before the world.
But as time passed and people gradually forgot these events, the Emperor would surely make a move against the Clear Sky Sect.
What Li Qingqiu could do was strengthen the Clear Sky Sect.
He planned to cultivate another group of disciples capable of standing on their own.
Cheng Canghai, Xue Jin, Chai Yunshang, Liu Yan, and so on—Li Qingqiu greatly looked forward to their growth.
Their cultivation need not be exceedingly high.
Reaching the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, Fourth Layer, would already allow them to look down upon the martial world.
Spring and summer passed.
The Clear Sky Sect did not encounter trouble in the first half of the year.
This year, Li Qingqiu had already turned twenty-two, and his youngest junior sister Li Sijin had already turned sixteen.
The Clear Sky Sect still appeared youthful, but compared to the past, it had shed its immaturity and begun to display the bearing of a great sect.
Under the Thousand Spirit Tree, Li Qingqiu and Wu Man’er were sparring.
Li Dongyue and Chai Yunshang practiced on the side while observing.
Not long ago, Wu Man’er had reached the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, Fourth Layer.
Now, when he unleashed the Nine Heavens Divine Palm, it was extremely domineering.
Even though they were ten zhang away, Li Dongyue and Chai Yunshang could still feel the fierce wind.
Li Dongyue’s current cultivation was the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, Third Layer.
Her progress was not particularly fast, but placed within the martial world, that was already equivalent to a near-peak expert—only she had no chance to display her strength.
Relying on her relatively good aptitude for immortal cultivation, Chai Yunshang had reached the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, Second Layer.
With her strength, she had earned the position of direct disciple and won the opportunity to train in the Blessed Land of a Thousand Spirits.
The Blessed Land of a Thousand Spirits was no longer a secret, but only direct disciples could cultivate there.
And it was not a place one could enter at will—only once per month, one day each time, choosing freely between the Spiritual Mine and the Blessed Land.
As long as they experienced it once and felt the boundless spiritual energy, direct disciples would always be driven to cultivate harder.
Chai Yunshang looked at the overwhelmingly domineering Wu Man’er, secretly astonished.
This was the first time she had ever seen him make a move.
In daily life, whenever she encountered Wu Man’er, he was always grinning innocently, looking harmless.
She had never expected that once in battle he would be a completely different person.
Ever since she began cultivating the Primordial Unity Scripture, her martial skills had advanced rapidly.
She had felt she was already strong, enough to count as a first-rate expert.
But now, seeing Wu Man’er’s Nine Heavens Divine Palm, she felt she could not withstand even a single strike.
Then she looked at the Sect Master—clouds and wind light, catching Wu Man’er’s domineering palm force with casual ease.
Wu Man’er moved fiercely, while Li Qingqiu appeared slow.
Yet this very contrast made the slower Li Qingqiu seem even more steady, giving off an unshakeable aura.
Although Li Qingqiu had not yet reached the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, Eighth Layer, the Hundred-Refinement Demon Body allowed his strength to soar.
Facing Wu Man’er, he did not even need to use his full power—it was effortless.
After three hundred exchanges, Li Qingqiu flipped his right palm.
It was so fast that afterimages rose, dazzling Wu Man’er’s eyes.
Next, he felt his chest struck lightly, and then his vision spun as heaven and earth flipped.
Wu Man’er was sent flying by Li Qingqiu’s palm, landing on the grass ten zhang away.
Li Dongyue frowned and said: "Senior Brother, do not strike Fifth Junior Brother so heavily！"
Since childhood, she had always felt protective toward Wu Man’er.
Because his mind was incomplete, she always feared he would be bullied.
Li Sifeng loved to tease Wu Man’er the most.
Li Qingqiu smiled: "Do not worry. His skin is thick and flesh tough. He is fine."
Wu Man’er climbed up from the grass.
His expression shifted, and he scratched his head while smiling at Li Dongyue: "Fourth Senior Sister, I am fine."
Li Qingqiu looked toward Wu Man’er and said: "That is all for today’s sparring. Continue cultivating."
Wu Man’er indeed had great talent for combat.
Although he was not intelligent, in battle he never wasted even a trace of vital energy.
This seemed to be his instinct—something that only talent could explain, because ordinary people could not do such a thing even if they tried.
"Alright."
Wu Man’er responded, then walked toward Li Dongyue and Chai Yunshang.
He rubbed his chest; he did not look as relaxed as he pretended.
He had not felt such pain in a long time.
Li Qingqiu whistled, then leapt upward like a sharp arrow shooting into the sky.
A massive creature swept in from the other side of the forest, caught him, and carried him off into the distant horizon.
This was not the first time Chai Yunshang had seen Li Qingqiu summon Little Eight, yet she was still amazed by his lightness skill.
With just a gentle leap, he could jump so high, and it looked effortless.
She had already set Li Qingqiu as her goal.
She too wanted to become someone like him.
After Li Qingqiu left, Li Dongyue and Chai Yunshang began talking about the Enforcement Hall, with Li Dongyue asking her opinion of it.
Li Qingqiu had already told the junior brothers and sisters earlier that he intended to cultivate Chai Yunshang to become the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall.
Because they trusted Li Qingqiu’s discernment, none of the junior disciples objected.
Instead, they were full of expectations for her.
"There truly are problems. Hall Master Xu is busy cultivating, and the other Enforcement Hall disciples care too much about their relationships with fellow sect members. As long as it is not a major offense, they simply turn a blind eye. The sect appears harmonious, but I feel this harmony is an illusion."Chai Yunshang said seriously.
Li Dongyue kept a calm expression and asked: "What specific problems? Explain in detail."
Chai Yunshang did not hesitate and spoke of the issues she had seen.
On Clear Sky Mountain, at mid-mountain, dozens of people gathered around the Martial Discussion Platform.
They watched the two on the stage, discussing animatedly.
Twenty-year-old Xue Jin stood on the platform, facing thirteen-year-old Ji Ya, feeling enormous pressure.
He had already reached the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, Fourth Layer, yet standing here facing Ji Ya, he felt uncertain.
As the foremost of the Thirteen Sword Fiends, Xue Jin enjoyed treatment no ordinary disciple could match.
Each month, he had more than ten days to cultivate either in the Blessed Land or the Spiritual Mine.
His aptitude for immortal cultivation was excellent—within the entire sect, few could compare.
He had already proven himself, not disappointing the Sect Master’s expectations.
When speaking of him, many believed he was a genius.
He had surpassed Qin Ye, whom he once lost to—only to encounter an even more terrifying genius.
Ji Ya, this youth saved by the Sect Master in the State Capital, was the Sect Master’s fifth disciple.
After entering the sect for just half a year, he had already reached the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, Third Layer.
He was currently the most dazzling genius within the Clear Sky Sect.
Regarding this match, many disciples were curious.
Even now, more people continued to rush over.
Even the Martial Champion, Li Yang, had come, accompanied by Zhao Linglong.
"Cousin, are you still unwilling to return? Staying here like this—eventually you must give the family an explanation."Zhao Linglong asked softly as she walked beside Li Yang.
Her gaze looked toward the Martial Discussion Platform.
She was familiar with both people involved.
Xue Jin had been on the platform more than once.
His rapid growth frightened her.
She felt that the current Xue Jin might not necessarily be weaker than she was.
And Ji Ya—this youth was young, his martial techniques crude, yet his cultivation was unbelievably deep, something she could not understand.